This four-part study discusses the basic concepts of confirmation professed not that long ago by your students. The teachings which they may have accepted and professed without much thought in junior high begin to take on new meaning now that they are older. This Bible study intends to help youth, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, commit themselves to God’s Word as they live out their lives in a world eager to devour their faith.
Topics: Confirmation, Faith
You can download a PDF of the Confirmation Rewind Leader’s Guide and Confirmation Rewind Student Sheets. If you use this study, let us know in the comments!
Overview:
Confirmation was not that long ago for the youth in your class; however a lot has changed since they donned white robes, knelt at the altar, and made their public profession of faith.
Two processes have been at work, maturation and learning. An expending knowledge base inevitably brings youth face to face with ideas and concepts that don’t fit easily into the categories they memorized (or failed to memorize) through catechesis. Simultaneously, their maturing minds are enabling them to think about familiar concepts in new and more subtle ways.
The teachings which they may have accepted and professed without much thought in junior high begin to take on new meaning. This may not look like intellectual growth to an adult, but intellectual growth is exactly what is taking place. High School students not only take tests, they test everything around them; parents, friends, and you.
They test what they were taught with finely honed truth detectors looking for what is genuine and trustworthy. Teens can be merciless when they discover hypocrisy. Conversely, none are as committed as teens when they locate someone or something they can trust.
The purpose of these studies is to guide youth through a review of key doctrines learned in confirmation instruction, recognizing that many of the youth will be using their newly acquired intellectual capacities. The youth are coming from a different place than when they were catechized and their questions are of a different order.
The following goals intend to help youth, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, recommit themselves to Gods truth as presented to us in God’s Word, as they live out their lives in a world eager to challenge their faith.
When we have completed these lessons we want our youth to be able to…
Session 1
- Reconsider in a more mature way the promises they made at their confirmation and their commitment to Jesus Christ.
- Recognize the authority that Scripture has as the Holy Spirit provides strength and encouragement for them through the Word.
Session 2
- See themselves as “Means of Grace” Christians who expect the Holy Spirit to be where He has promised to be.
- Rely on their baptism and value the Lord’s Supper for bringing them into community and giving them forgiveness and faith.
Session 3
- Provide examples of Law and Gospel functioning in their own lives as they reflect on sin and salvation.
- Exhibit the joy and certainty that is theirs in justification by grace through faith while avoiding the pitfall of self-righteousness.
Session 4
- View the Six Chief Parts into which Luther divided the catechism as a lifetime curriculum for growing in the faith.
- Count on the Divine Service as a place where God’ blessings can be found through Word and Sacrament.
Sessions are divided into four basic parts in order to reach the variety of learning styles among youth.
FOCUS – INFORM – CONNECT – VISION
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